Curtain-fixture.



' No. 653,673. Patented July l7, I900.

' H. s. HALE. j

CURTAIN FIXTURE.

(Application filed Mar. 12, 1900.)

(No Model.)

- NITED STATES PATET.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part er Letters Patent No. 653,673, dated July 17, 1906.

Application filed March 12, 1900. Serial No. 8,271. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY S. HALE, of the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvementin Ourtain-Fixtures,of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to curtain-fixtu res; and it consists of certain improve ments, which are fully set forth in the following specification and are shown in the accompanying drawings.

It is one object of my invention to provide a suitable construction of window-curtain fixture which shall be especially adapted to railway-cars and embody simplicity in structure and mode of operation.

My object is further to so construct the fixture that it is normally locked in any position in which it is placed and by a simple upward or downward motion upon its lower end, as in the actof pushing up or pulling down the curtain, the same shall be temporarily released for adjustment.

In carrying out my invention I provide the curtain with the usual springroller upon which it is wound. The lower end of the curtain is provided with spring-actuated clamps extending transversely from its lateral edges and adapted to work in contact with a fixed part attached to or formed upon the windowframe. These clamps are connected at the middle lower edge of the curtain with a handpiece of special construction set out hereinafter and referred to in the claimsavhich when pushed up or pulled down withdraws the clamps so as to release the curtain. In this manner the normal act of raising or lowering the curtain operates the clamps orretaining devices, thus making it possible for even the most ignorant or careless to properly adjust the curtain.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation with part in section,showing my improved curtain-fixture in use. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of same on line 56 m. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modified form of handle for operating the clamps. Fig. l is a sectional elevation of the lower part of the curtain-fixture, showing a further modified form of handle device for the clamps; and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower part of the fixture, showing a further modification.

A is the curtain, and its upper end is at tached to and wound upon a spring-roller B, of any usual or suitable construction, which Winds up the curtain when its lower end is free to rise. 7

O is the window-frame and has the recesses or vertical grooves c c, in which are secured vertical guide-rods or cables D D. Fitted upon these rods D and free to slide thereon are the tubular guides E E. These guides E are hinged or otherwise connected with the ends of the tubular frame F,secured in or upon the lower part or edge of the curtain. I prefer to hinge these parts together,as shown atf, but do not confine myself thereto.

1 I are two clamps which are carried in the respective ends of the frame F and operate, through the tubular guides E, to pressupon the rods D -to clamp the guides to the said rods. Springs *6 operate to normally press the clamps I into clamping'position.

G is a plate pivoted'at g in the frame F and preferably at its center. This plate is connected on opposite edges with the clamps I I by links or rods J J. A handpiece H is connected to the plate and extends through a slot K in the frame F, and its other end is jointed to the said frame at h in any suitable manner. It will now be seen that if the handle H be pushed up or pulled down it will rock the plate G upon its pivot g and will withdraw the clamps I I against the action of their springs t. At the same time the upward or downward pressure will cause the curtain to rise ordescend, as the case may be. The handle and plate G are double actin'gand are automatic in releasing the curtain when any natural attempt is made to raise or lower it. a

It is evident that the rods D may be omitted, if desired, and the clamps I press directly upon any fixed part of the window-frame, if so desired, but I prefer to employ the rods and guides as being most practical, because they prevent any accidental disconnection of the clamps.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the bandle H is omitted and a single knob H is extended from the plate G through a slot K in the frame F. Pressure upon this knob operates in the same manner as upon the bandle before described.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the connecting wires or links J are made flexible, as of a thin fiat strip of steel, and passed between guides L near the middle of the frame F. The guides are shown as small fiat rollers. The parts J are connected to the upright part of the handle H passing through the frame F. Any upward or downward movement of the handle will put tension upon the parts J and operate the clamps as before.

In the construction shown in Fig. 5 an elongated or extended operating piece orhandle H is employed, which extends along the outside of the frame F, so that it may be operated at any part of its length to actuate the clamps, and to further enlarge the operative extent a second handpiece H may be employed, extending to the other end of the frame F, so that the clamps may be operated I at any point in substantially the entire length of the frame F.

Ido not confine myself to any of the minor details, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from the essential features of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a spring-actuated curtain, with a transverse frame attached to the lower end of the curtain, friction-clamps carried on each end of the frame and operating with a part fixed to the window-frame so as to hold the curtain in all positions, a movable metallic handle carried by the curtain hinged to the lower part of the transverse frame and having an operating end at or near the middle of and below the said transverse frame movable vertically and adapted to release the clamp by either an upward or downward movement, and mechancal connection shielded within the transverse frame for connecting the friction-clamps with the handle.

2. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a spring-actuated curtain, with a transverse frame attached to the lower end of the curtain, friction-clamps carried on each end of the frame and operating with a part fixed to the window-frame, and movable operating parts carried by the curtain at or near the middle of the transverse frame and adapted to release the clamp by either a positive upward or downward movement and consisting of a pivoted plate connected upon the opposite sides of its pivot with the respective clamps and a pivoted handle portion hinged at one end to the lower part of the transverse frame and having its other end jointed with the pivoted plate, and connections between the pivoted plate and the clamps.

3. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a spring-actuated curtain, with a transverse frame attached to the lower end of the curtain, clamps carried on each end of the frame, a fixed upright guide attached toeach side of the window-frame, suitable guide-heads j ointed to each end of the transverse frame and adapted to move upon the upright guides, a movable handle or operating part carried by the curtain at or near the middle of the transverse frame and adapted to release the clamp by either an upward or downward movement, and connections between the handle and the clamps.

4. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a spring-actuated curtain, with a transverse frame attached to the lower end of the curtain, clamps carried on each end of the frame, an upright guide attached to each side-of the window-frame, suitable guides for the ends of the transverse frame and the uprightgu-ideheads jointed to the ends of said transverse frame, and a movable handle or operating part carried by the curtain at or near the mid die of the transverse frame and adapted to release the clamp by either'an upwardor a downward movement.

5. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of the curtain with a transverse frame secured at its lower or free end, oppositely-moving spring-actuated clamps carried on the ends of the transverse frame, a movable handle of solid material arranged below the transverse frame and connected thereto by jointed connections so as to be movable vertically, and means leading from the handle to the clamps and adapted to withdraw them against the action of theirsprings by an upward or downward movement of the handle while maintaining the handle wholly below the lower end of the curtain.

6 In a curtain-fixture, the combination of a spring-actuated roller and curtain, with tipright guide-rods D, D, tubular guides E, E sleeved upon said rods, a frame F carried in the lower end of the curtain and connected to the tubular guides, reciprocating clamps I, I, pressing upon the rods, springs 2', 'i, for actuating the clamps, a pivoted plate Gr carried in'the frame and having a handle to oscillate it in either direction, and connectingrods J, J attached to the clamps and united to the pivoted plate on diametrically-opposite sides of the pivot of the plate and inali-nement with the clamps whereby an oscillation of the pivoted plate in either direction will withdraw the clamps against the action of their springs.

'7. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of the curtain with clamps located at each side of the curtain and adapted to clamp the curtain in any adjusted position, of a movable operating metal structure or handle extending for a substantial distance along and below the lower edge of the curtain and hinged thereto so as to be movable vertically to and from the lower part of the curtain, and connections between said operating metal structure or handle at the middle of the curtain and the clamps for operating them.

8. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of nections between the adjacent ends of the the curtain with clamps located at each side metallic handle and the clamps. 10 of the curtain and adapted to clamp the cur- In testimony of which invention I have heretain in any adjusted position, of two movunto set my hand.

5 able operating metallic handles extending HENRY S. HALE.

for a substantial distance in opposite direc- Witnesses: tions along the lower edge of the curtain and GEO. H. RAPSON, hinged thereto at their outer ends, and 0011- A. BRITTON PETERSON. 

